And, with United nervous as to Spurs’ motives, their search for an alternative centre-back will continue to cover for the eventuality that the north London outfit will pull out of the deal at the last minute ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.
United have been pursuing the 29-year-old throughout the summer but have widened the net in recent times after the initial failure to agree a fee with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
That led to increased interest in Leicester City’s England defender Harry Maguire.
But Goal understands that a compromise was finally reached between Spurs and United last week, on the condition that Spurs can cover for the loss of the defender.
And it is believed that this was the news executive vice-chair Ed Woodward was delivering to manager Jose Mourinho when the pair were seen in brief conversation in Miami after the 2-1 International Champions Cup win over Real Madrid.
The nature of the latest twist has prompted United to keep working on possible additions at centre-half, with Mourinho insistent that he needs a high-quality addition before the window closes even if Tottenham don’t bring in a new player and thus fail to release Alderweireld.
(goal.com)
